Tour operators and South West attractions urged to join forces to attract cruise liner visitors to the region
South West tourism attractions are being urged to join forces with their nearest ports to promote themselves to the expanding cruise liner market as Destination South West reports back from a recent trip to the USA. At the beginning of February the team from Destination South West met with senior representatives from Crystal Cruises, Princess Cruises, Cruise Norway, Regent Oceania and several other movers and shakers from the sector.
Destination South West learned that in 2010 a number of tourism attractions in the South West proved a considerable draw for passengers coming in to the 12 ports represented by the organisation.
Bovington Tank Museum proved particularly popular for passengers landing at Portland as well as Abbotsbury Swannery and Forde Abbey. Further west St Michael’s Mount was a popular draw for passengers arriving at Mount’s Bay or Falmouth and for those who can’t get enough of the high seas, the National Maritime Museum at Falmouth was a real “must see”. Art lovers and those wishing to soak up the artistic ambience of St Ives in Cornwall headed straight for the Tate Gallery at St Ives.
Cruise liners coming into the Devon member ports of Plymouth, Dartmouth and the English Riviera favoured the 600 year old Powderham Castle as well as historic Buckland Abbey. Dartmouth Steam Railway also proved popular with passengers wanting to try a different mode of transport.
Mike Reynolds, Chair of Destination South West, said, “With cruising continuing to be a growth market in the next few years, it is important that tour operators as well as the attractions they represent pull together to capitalise on the potential of the South West for the cruise liner visitor and to enable its ports to continue to attract the business from these major cruise liner operators.”
The Destination South West website: www.destinationsouthwest.co.uk lists all the tourism attractions currently members of DSW and the distances from the nearest ports, as well as estimated time to travel to the attraction from the port.
Destination South West actively promotes the Region to ensure that the South West continues to attract high profile cruise ships to its ports. Partners include ports, local government authorities, tourist attractions, and other organisations with an interest in the cruise industry. For more information on DSW visit www.destinationsouthwest.co.uk.